Dimapur, March 24 (MExN): The Nagaland Voluntary Consumers Organisation (NVCO) strongly opposed the backdoor appointments involving 994 appointments in Police department, stating that it infringes the fundamental rights of other eligible candidates and also amounts to infringement of Article 14 and 16 of the Constitution of India.
Conveying appreciation to Naga Tribal Union Chumoukedima Town (NTUCT) for their fight against the 994 backdoor appointments in police department under Government of Nagaland, the NVCO also extended full support to NTUCT, “till such time the government revoke the said 994 appointments.”
NVCO President Kezhokhoto Savi, Advocate said that the appointments were a clear case of backdoor appointment as they were made without any advertisement.
“It also infringes the fundamental rights of other eligible candidates which is amounting to infringement of Article 14 and 16 of the Indian Constitution where the appointments were made without following appropriate procedure under the Rules holding the field and without advertisement and without inviting applications from open market,” NVCO said in its statement.
The NVCO mentioned the clarification of Director General of Police T John Longkumer where he had said that none of the constable appointments made in the department are backdoor appointments, and termed the clarification “very unfortunate”.
It questioned whether the DGP is aware of the state government Office Memorandum in another related case that appointment made without open advertisement is ultra vires of Article 14 and 16 of the Constitution of India.
The NVCO demanded that “The alleged 994 appointments have to be immediately cancelled for the interest of justice and it cannot be compromised in any manner.”
It also expressed happiness to learn that the NTUCT is preparing to approach the court if the government fails to cancel the appointments. It extended continued support to NTUCT.
The NVCO also mentioned the statement of a ‘certain Naga Tribal Students’ Union’ who said that the unions/organizations’ fight against backdoor appointment was “targeting only a particular department, which exposed apparent vested interest and ill-intention”.
Terming that statement as ‘unfortunate’, the NVCO also highlighted several other cases where several unions and organizations like NSF, ACAUT, PSAN, CTAN, CEAN, NTUCT and NPRAAF had been fighting against backdoor appointments in other departments.
Savi said that the fight against backdoor appointment is to mete out justice by ensuring ‘equality in matters of public appointment’. “It is also the fight against all those who have been appointed/recruited in various departments of the Government of Nagaland bypassing the constitutional scheme of public employment,” the NVCO said.
